The knot is an image filled with inherent symbolic contradictions, suitable for addressing complexity. Knots are used to tie things down but also lift things up. They symbolize unity and eternity while also symbolizing confinement and restriction.

Influenced by the politically charged culture of the Bay Area, I am continuously exposed to powerful feminist and political artists. As of late, I have felt overwhelmed by the unsettling, and constant, pull toward identifying everything and everyone by their extreme counterpart, particularly within our current political climate. In response, my work has moved toward capturing the confrontation of extremists, in which I have begun creating even higher contrasted images, paring unlikely color combinations with layers of varied textures. I am capitalizing on the tension while consciously channeling it toward something surprisingly vibrant and optimistic.

After experimenting with fabric, I read papers by feminist artists like Harmony Hammond, Elaine Hedges and Ingrid Wendt exploring the historical relationship women have with fabric. This encouraged my interest in exploring feminism creatively and piqued my curiosity as to how materials can suggest content. Using knotted fabrics in my work, I am challenging traditional gender stereotypes, particularly the expectation of female artists to create calming, soothing and understated imagery. Instead, I create entangled paintings with mutilated canvases and thick layers of textured paint, creating imagery that is unapologetic in its vitality. However, I am not a solely feminist artist. My work is about struggle, contradiction, and resilience, much of which is related to my experience as a woman, but not exclusively.

Seren Moran

represented by

Art Attack


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